Eight local nonprofit organizations will share $8,000 awarded by the newly formed Carbon County Community Foundation.

The group, founded in 2015, made check presentations to representatives of the recipients on Wednesday at the Summit Hill Heritage Center.The Heritage Center was one of the recipients, receiving $500 to start a musical instrument program for children.The groups, their representatives, the amount they received and the intended use for the grants are as follows:• St. Peter's Community Resource Center, Lehighton, the Rev. Kenneth and Teresa Ogden, $1,500 for a bare necessities pantry.• Family Promise, Natalie Bojko, $1,000, for general operating purposes.• Care Net of Carbon County, Susan DeMara, $1,000, for an "earn while you learn" program.• Wheels on Meals, Palmerton, William Gallagher, $1,000, to support the continued service provided by Meals on Wheels.• Weatherly Library, Sue Ann Gerhard, $1,000, to assist a building project underway by the library.• Jim Thorpe Rotary Club, Jeanne Miller, $1,000, GED diploma reimbursements.• Grace Community Church, Lansford, Mary Soto and Jodi Mika, planting a community garden in Lansford.• Summit Hill Heritage Center, Debra Ranck, $500, musical instruments for children.The checks were presented by Chris Anthony, vice president of the foundation, who was assisted by other foundation members.Also making remarks was Tina Dowd, president.Anthony gave recognition to the Luzerne County Community Foundation for the assistance it provided to the fledging Carbon County group.Each recipient explained how they intend to use their grants.Kenneth Ogden said the "bare necessity pantry" reaches out to eligible residents and provides them with toiletry supplies such as soap, toothpaste and toilet paper. He said other necessities also are offered.He told the gathering at the Heritage Center that when the bare necessity pantry was started, he anticipated it would be mostly single parents benefitingbut a lot of elderly residents are visiting because they have a hard time surviving on their fixed incomes.Bojko said Family Promise helps homeless families by providing them with temporary shelter. She said about 65 families have received help so far.Besides providing shelter, Family Promise also has assisted in other ways. In one case, a family had no beds, so Family Promise provided them.DeMara explained the "earn as you learn" program of Care Net. She said applicants receive "fake money" which is applied as a reward to people completing programs on life skills. Pregnancy care is one of the programs offered.She said Care Net plans to open a small boutique in Nesquehoning.Gallagher said Meals on Wheels was founded in 1972 and provides meals to people unable to shop, cook and take care of themselves. It helps enable people to remain in their homes instead of being forced into nursing homes.Meals on Wheels in Palmerton has 15 to 20 drivers and serves about 20 to 30 people daily.Gerhard said that about two years ago, the library was forced to find a new home when an individuals purchased the building in which it was housed and turned off the heat and water. She said the library bought a building - with the help of the Chamber of Commerce - that was a former factory and bowling alley.Although much renovation and rebuilding has occurred, she said still to be constructed are a new kitchen and an activities room.Miller said the club helps people attain GED diplomas. She said the diplomas cost about $120, which many of the people can't afford.Mika said this is the fourth year of the community garden in Lansford. She said the money will be used to construct a shed.Ranck said the music program is something new for the Heritage Center.She said a music teacher who moved to the area from Philadelphia is interested in pairing with the Heritage Center to encourage young people to play musical instruments."We want to have a music instrument bank," she said, adding that donations of instruments are being sought.